No. 538 Squadron RAF

No. 538 Squadron RAF was one of the ten Turbinlite nightfighter squadrons of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.

No. 538 Squadron RAF
Active2 Sep 1942 – 25 Jan 1943[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch Royal Air Force
RoleTurbinlite nightfighter squadron
Part ofNo. 9 Group RAF, Fighter Command[2]

History

No. 538 Squadron was formed at RAF Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire on 2[1] September 1942, from No. 1459 (Turbinlite) Flight,[3][4] as part of No. 9 Group RAF in Fighter Command. Instead of operating only Turbinlite and -rudimentary- Airborne Intercept (AI) radar equipped aircraft (Havocs and Bostons) and working together with a normal nightfighter unit, such as in their case No. 253 Squadron RAF while still 1458 Flight,[3] the unit now also flew with their own Hawker Hurricanes. It was disbanded at Hibaldstow on 25 January 1943,[1] when Turbinlite squadrons were, due to lack of success on their part and the rapid development of AI radar, thought to be superfluous.[5]

Aircraft operated
Aircraft operated by No. 538 Squadron RAF, data from[1][3][5]
FromToAircraftVersion
2 September 194225 January 1943Douglas HavocMk.I (Nightfigter)
2 September 194225 January 1943Douglas HavocMk.I (Turbinlite)
2 September 194225 January 1943Douglas HavocMk.II (Turbinlite)
2 September 194225 January 1943Douglas BostonMk.III (Turbinlite)
2 September 194225 January 1943Hawker HurricaneMk.I
2 September 194225 January 1943Hawker HurricaneMk.IIc

Squadron bases
Bases and airfields used by No. 538 Squadron RAF, data from[1][2][3][5]
FromToBase
2 September 194225 January 1943RAF Hibaldstow, Lincolnshire

Commanding officers
Officers commanding No. 538 Squadron RAF, data from[3]
FromToName
8 September 194225 January 1943S/Ldr. C.V. Winn, DFC

References

Notes
  1. Jefford 2001, p. 97.
  2. www.rafcommands.com
  3. Rawlings 1978, p. 466.
  4. Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007, p. 123.
  5. Halley 1988, p. 403.

Bibliography
  • Bowyer, Michael J.F.; Rawlings, John D.R. (1979). Squadron Codes, 1937–56. Cambridge, UK: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 0-85059-364-6.
  • Delve, Ken (1994). The Source Book of the RAF. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 1-85310-451-5.
  • Flintham, Vic; Thomas, Andrew (2003). Combat Codes: A Full Explanation and Listing of British, Commonwealth and Allied Air Force Unit Codes since 1938. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84037-281-8.
  • Halley, James J. (1988). The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1918–1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Jefford, C.G. (2001). RAF Squadrons, a Comprehensive record of the Movement and Equipment of all RAF Squadrons and their Antecedents since 1912 (2nd ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Rawlings, John (1978) [1969]. Fighter Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft (Revised ed.). London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-354-01028-X.
  • Sturtivant, Ray, ISO; Hamlin, John (2007). RAF Flying Training And Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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